Assaulters, Queerphobics & Misogynists at Fur Free Friday & Stop Staples Shopping Day

On the busiest shopping day of the year which the Capitalists call “Black” Friday, Philly Animal Defense League (ADL) and Bash Back! Philly struck a blow to the animal abuse industry and Capitalism’s big day. Of course, we’re talking about Fur Free Friday and Stop Staples Shopping Day. With one bullhorn, a few homemade cardboard signs, our masks, our voice and rage we gave rich zombie costumers a piece of us.

Our first stop was to the Staples store at 1500 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102. Over 200 “Staples Kills” fliers were handed out at this stop on Staples busiest shopping day of the year. Activists turned dozen of potential and now ex-customers of Staples away simply by telling them about the dirty business Staples is involved with.

Staples has been caught delivering supplies to Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) in a disguised vehicle. What do they have to hide? Perhaps they don’t want others to know that they supply the bloody butchers and animal abusers at Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS).

Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) is a company whose primary business is death and suffering. They kill 500 animals every day for product testing - not for medical progress and not because they are seeking to find a cure for human diseases. They murder these little creatures for things like toothpaste and tanning lotion and food additives like Splenda and caramel coloring. They have been implicated in six undercover investigations for scientific fraud, gross incompetence and vicious animal abuse.

A global campaign to shut down HLS for good has seen many hundreds of companies, ditch HLS. Despite this, Staples continues to deliver them office supplies. Actions in Britain and the U.S. have sent a loud and clear message to Staples that activists will stop at nothing to steer companies away from HLS and drive them out of business.

While continuing to protest at the corner of 15th Street and Chestnut Street in downtown Philadelphia, activists got their visit from our “friends” in blue, the Philadelphia Police Department. The first officer on the scene, after 15 minutes of protesting, marched up to one activist and insisted they were blocking the door and can’t be standing where they were. He said something like “you can’t fuck do this right here. You need to move away and off private property you little dick. Don't fuck with me you fucking little dicks” The nonviolent protesters response was simply “I’m on public sidewalk and away from the door. I have a right to be here.” The cop then said, “don’t fuck around with me you little dick. I don’t get fucked around with. You need to be 10 feet away from the door.” When the protester offered to call the local Legal Observers of the National Lawyers Guild the cop gave an angry face and marched into the store.

Upon the filth’s (police officer’s) departure he decided to shout at the protesters, “what’s your stance on abortion?!?!” One protester responded “it’s a womon’s choice!” The filth then proceeded to laugh and declare “ha, ha, ha you kill babies! Baby killers!” This is an example of our “friends” in blue. So Staples at 15th Street & Chestnut Street, whether or not you cop call the most unprofessional and ridiculous filth, it won’t stop us. As the saying goes “We will never back down… until they stop the killing!” That they is you Staples. We know you were feeling it when you doors stopped opening and closing and suddenly you realized there were employees everywhere ready to assist customers who were nowhere to be found.

Onward, Philly ADL and Bash Back! Philly then made its way to the other Staples store in downtown Philadelphia at 1044 Market Street. This Staples has been protested and had surprise disruptions before, it was time to make things a little more PHADL. Activists wished Staples a happy Stop Staples Shopping Day and got started protesting. Another 60 “Staples Kills” fliers were handed out with an additional 90 anti-Huntingdon Life Sciences fliers to people walking by, potential shoppers and new ex-shoppers. We could tell that some of the cashiers inside were uncomfortable with the images. We couldn't blame them. We addressed to them that our fight is not with them. Our fight is with their boss’s bosses and regional Staples managers. We encouraged them to let everyone know not to shop at Staples until they stop in puppy killing. The filth arrived after 30 minutes of being there and two additional ADLers joined the protest. Dozens of shoppers were outraged and turned away from the doors.

After 40 minutes of being there protesters began to wrap up because this day was always Fur Free Friday and PHADL had some other visits to make. While chanting “We’ll be back! We’ll be back!” one protester simply put their sign on the window of the store and gently banged just loud enough for employees inside to hear. Immediately the store manager ran up to the window screaming, face turning red, spit coming out the mouth and all. He ran outside with two of his lackeys from Staples shouting “Do it again you fagots. Do it again.” And they were screaming for the police to come. Too bad the police simply told them to calm down and go back inside.

Staples, until you cut your ties to HLS expect more office demonstrations, more boycotting, more fliers flooding your stores and expect us to be back again and again. And managers and store associates that chose to scream “you fagots” at us. You do know you shouted that at Bash Back! Philly right? We respond with… YES WE ARE! WE’RE QUEER! WE’RE ANARCHISTS! WE’LL FUCK YOU (UP)!

It was time for the rowdy queer animals to bring our party (of love and liberation) to the fur monsters. We queer animals had been patiently waiting for the Humane League of Philadelphia (formally Hugs For Puppies), Compassion Over Killing (COK) and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to finish up their protesting for a good few hours. With some quick explaining as to why we do not and will never work with the director of Humane League of Philadelphia and PETA, need we say more, we were given the space to do our thang at Burberry Fur at 1705 Walnut Street.

After hours of PETA signs and low-key protesting, the queer animals got things PHADL. We were chanting loud and proud. We were masked. We were uncompromising. With chants like “For the mink and for the fox… Smash their windows! Glue their locks!” “For the rabbit and for the fox… Smash their windows! Glue their locks!” And “50 dead animals… one fur coat!” “50 dead animals… one fur coat!” The block and sick monsters inside Burberry Fur stopped and turned to us. We kept it going and soon had protesters from the previous PETA/COK/Humane League protest join us.

After being their 20 minutes, a womyn, wearing a larger gray fur coat, with a child in a stroller and most likely the white father made their way into the Burberry Fur store. As they approached it activists began chanting “50 dead animals… your fur coat” and “Sham! Sham! Sham!” The womyn stopped before entering and charged a protester (protester 1) in the middle. The fur coat wearer shoved the activist’s sign which was shoving the activist as well. Another protest (protester 2) stood beside the two and told her to back away and that she is assaulting protester 1. The fur coat wearing shouted to protester 2 to back away. When protester 2 didn’t move the fur coat womyn spat on their face. Luckily protest 2 was masked with sunglasses on. The womyn then turned and headed to the door. Chants proceeded “It’s your money… your fault! Your choice… your fault! Your ugly fur coat… your fault!” The womyn then turned around and charged at protester 2 by first smacking their sunglasses off. As protester 2 proceeded to bend down to pick them up, protest 2 was met with the fur coat wearer shoving them and attempting to scratch and slap them in the face. Protester 2 immediately put their hands in the air so everyone could tell who the assaulter was. Upon doing this the fur coat wearer shoved their head violently back against a marble wall directly behind the protester.

The result was protester 2 being spat on, cuts on their face, a bloody lip, a huge bump in the back of their head and a raging headache. Immediately the fur womyn ran into the store to avoid the police and civil affairs who were down the block. Protester 2 got on the megaphone and drew the attention of everyone on the block and in the store of what happened. Speaking on how the violence that the fur industry conducts is completely reflected on through the violence of fur coat wearers and animal abusers.

"Obviously Burberry Furs' business breed the same hate and violence that it profits off of. To the womyn with the gray fur coat who assaulted me and just ran inside, how do you feel now. How do you think people around you feel about you knowing you will through thousands and even tens of thousands of dollars around for a fur coat and then violently attack nonviolent peaceful protesters who simply want to stop the murder and abuse that Burberry Furs participates in?," said protest 2 while on the megaphone.

Protester 2 felt more motivated than ever to continue protesting. The Philly Filth (Philadelphia Police Department) eventually made their way to the seen. They asked protester 2 what happened. Bash Back! Philly & Philly ADL quickly came to a consensus that we would not pursue with the $tate's version of assault charges. We're not cop callers but if you assault one of us... we'll get you names and addresses and make this shit PHADL. So to the womyn in the gray fur coat, with the child in the stroller, and the white man with her Philly ADL and Bash Back! Philly will see you soon.

Our little rouble rousing contingent made it's way across the street for our final stop of the night to Ferber Jacques Furs at 1708 Walnut Street. "We hope you didn't think you'd get a break Ferber Furs!," shouted one protester on the megaphone. We were there for a good 20 minutes and learned the name of the owner of Ferber Jacques Furs. Oh you better believe were gonna use that to our advantage.

From the cop that called us "little fucking dicks" and "baby killers," to the Staples manager and associates who screamed" do it again "you fagots," to Burberry Furs with customers that assaulted us we at Philly Animal Defense League and Bash Back! Philly just had so much with you all. That's why we'd like to present all of you with Fur Free Friday and Stop Staples Shopping Day ROUNDS 2! 3! 4!... and many more.

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Disclaimer: Philly Animal Defense League (Philly ADL) and Bash Back! Philly are not affiliated or associated with Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) Global, Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty USA (SHAC USA) or Hugs for Puppies (Humane League of Philadelphia) and do not conduct or incite any illegal or unethical activity.
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Comments

What is the problem with the

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 12/04/2008 - 7:26pm

What is the problem with the director of the Humane League of Philadelphia? Just curious, as I'm pretty sure of what your issues with PETA would be.. but I don't know much about the Humane League.

I was told about this

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/08/2008 - 8:15pm

I was told about this article and was one of the Officers on the scene at this, I don't mind if you print the truth about any interaction with myself or fellow officers but this article is just a fabrication! Complete lies. Meanwhile you are the type to scream and cry for us if any real city dwellers ever stepped to you. Get a life losers.

haha you're kidding,

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/09/2008 - 9:44pm

haha you're kidding, right?
all of the officers who responded refused to even take seriously the lady's unprovoked & unwarranted assault on the protestor. the first officer on the scene (who i'm guessing is the one who responded) at staples on chestnut shoved one of the activists and harassed others with offensive language.
fuck the police
none of the account is a fabrication

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